Pedal-locking mechanism.



E. S. FOLJAMBE.

PEDAL LOCKING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1910.

1,156,990. r Patented 0ct.19,1915.

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. vehicles.

., UNITED STATES P TE EE cE.

EUGENE s. FOLJAMBE, or PHIIQ DEL HIA, PENNSYLVANIAL To all whom it may concern: s Be it known that I,- EUGENE S. FOLJAMBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Pedal-Locking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates broadly to aspeoial arrangement of operating pedals ordevices,

andv relates particularly to means for locking the pedals of automobilesand,similar The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple yet effective means to lock the pedals when the vehicle is not in use, so that it will be impossible to throw the clutch, brake or other part of the operating mechanism into operative'relation and thus prevent the use of the vehicle u'ntil such part is released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination and arrangement of parts whereby accidental slipping of the foot when the pedal is being operated will be prevented, and which will alsoprovide a. guide for the foot in. case of an emergency.

or other occasion when it is desired to operate the pedal very quickly.

Another object of the inventionisto provide an arrangement and construction of parts 'which will permit the pedal to be made flush with or slightly below "the floor of. the 'vehicle, thus preventing injury to the levers or parts of the pedalirwhich usually extend above the floorand also improve the appearance of the vehicle. Instead of iron, which is cold to" the feet, the surface of the pedals can be made "of the same material as the floor board; such, for instance as pyramid aluminum.

In theaccompanying drawingsi Figure 1' is a view in. perspective of a front port-ion of a vehicle embodying my improved looking pedal. Fig. 2 is aside elevation partly in section ofthesame.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the pedal 1 preferably comprises a foot plate 2 which is connected by a shank 3 to the arm 4, which may be operatively connected in any suitable manner with the movable part of the driving mechanism of the vehicle, such as the clutch (not shown). .A pedal i may also be provided, which is connected to any other movable part of. the driving mechanism (not shown) by the arm 5. The floor of the vehicle 6 may be made Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Oct. 19, 1915. Application filed November 18.1910. v Serial No. 592,042; v

of boards cast of aluminum or other suit- FF able metal or material. Preferably the floor comprises a raised portion'or platform 7 ad acent to the pedals. The floor or platform is'prodded with p g 8 toreCeive the pedals,and the front and sides of said openlngs, and if desired the rear also, are

providedwith a guard 9 depending from' the floor, and. preferably formed integral therewith. The end guards- 10 are curved to the same are described by the pedal in its movement.

f Allock of any suitable construction, such asa. combination lock 11is mounted in the.

floor or the platform and comprises a bolt 12 which is adapted to engage in a socket 14' provided preferably in the plate or lug 15, which is secured .to or formed integral with the pedal and preferably with the pedal plate. Said bolt may be operated di-;.

rectly by the knob 16 of the combination lock, or in any other suitable manner. The plate 15 is preferably secured at or near the edge of the-pedal so that it will be arranged close to the side guard for the pedal is in its locked position. If. desired the raised POItlOIlOf the floor may be provided with a suitable partition 17 and with a door and will .thus shield the screws or other holding devices for the lock when the pedal Or; cover 18 thus'formin'g a compartment to.

below the plane of the floor, a ssh'own 1n full lines in Fig. 2'. Thelball of the foot one of its walls formed'by ofthe operator thus rests upon the pedal plate, while the heel is supported by the rigid but inclined portion 20 of the floor.

Consequently the toe of the operator will "be engaged bythe guard as soon as the downward movement of the pedal begins to the position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, thus-preventingjthe foot from slipping. accidental slipping of the foot from the pedal when it is operated with great speed or under the excitement of a sudden emergency is absolutely prevented. The foot of the operator can rest on the pedals all of By means of this construction the the time and yet be in a normal and comfortable position. The floor of the car is free from projecting levers and pedals, thus improving the appearance of the car and protecting the levers or pedals from in ury I lit) and also preventing accidental engagement with articles which may be placed on the floor which would prevent the prompt and speedy operation of the levers or pedals in case of an emergency. When the pedal is in its locked position, so as to hold the parts of the transmission gear out of engagement, such, for instance, as the parts of the clutch, it is impossible to start or operate the vehicle under its own power, yet the running gear is free and it would be possible to move the vehicle by other power if desired. It is also possible while the pedal is locked to operatethe engine for any purpose desired, such as making adjustments and repairs.-

Although I have shown one form of mechanism embodying my invention, it will be obvious that various changes within the skill of the mechanic may be made in the details of construct-ion thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention, provided the means set forth in the following claims be employed. a

I claimas my invention 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a platform having an opening therein, of a mechanism actuating shaft mounted beneath said platform for rotary movement about a fixed axis, a lever arm operatively connected to said shaft and extending toward said opening, a foot plate fitting within said opening and normally disposed in position substantially flush with the top of the platform so as to form a continuity of floor surface therewith, a connection with said foot' plate and said lever whereby stepping on said plate will rotate said shaft said platformbeing provided with a toe guard curved to the arc of movement of the plate, outlining the forward portion of the opening anddepending from the top of said platform whereby the toe of the operator is held from slipping off the plate in all positions of the plate when depressed from its normal position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a platform having an opening therein, of a mechanism actuating shaft mounted beneath said platform for rotary movement about a fixed axis, a lever arm operatively connected to said shaft and extending toward said opening, a foot plate fitting within said opening and normally disposed in position substantially flush with the top of the platform so as to form a continuity of floor surface therewith, aconnection with said floor plate and said lever whereby stepping on said plate will rotate said shaft, said platform being provided with a toe guard curved to the arc of movement of the plate, outlining the forward portion of the opening and depending from the top of said platform whereby the toe of the operator is held from slipping off the plate as soon as the plate is depressed, and a locking means controlled from the top of the platform for maintaining said plate in one of its positions.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a floor, a platform inclined at an angle to said floor and co-acting therewith to form a heel rest for the operators foot when actuating the device, said platform having an opening therein adjacent the'jointure of the floor and platform, a foot plate fitting within said opening and normally disposed in position substantially flush with the top of the platform so as to form a continuity of surface therewith, a lock carried by said platform below the top surface thereof and having means for engaging said pedal. when in depressed position to hold the same, a guard plate outlining a portion of said opening and depending from said platform in position to shield the lock, and mechanism operatively connected to said pedal and retained in position by said lock.

This specification signed and witnessed this 10th day of November, A. D., 1910.

EUGENE S. FOLJAMBE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents.

Washington, D. G. 

